Comments | elisa_rolle: LGBT Paranormal for a first time genre reader

elisa_rolle

LGBT Paranormal for a first time genre reader

Jul 19, 2010 13:51

This is a semi-serious poll, but with a possible important turn: if you were asked to list your favorite LGBT Paranormal, knowing the target reader is: 1) LGBT 2) man for G, woman for L, both for BT 3) middle-up averaged cultured (meaning not a very young reader, probably from 20 years old and up?)? Since paranormal is not my strength, I'd like ( Read more... )

Comments 16

elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 12:57:25 UTC

Thank you Steve, as always your input is precious.

mroctober July 19 2010, 13:49:43 UTC

I had to change my answer to Gay. It felt wrong to nominate myself. Problem is, my favorite book of all time, Swordspoint, is really not a fantasy novel because it lacks magic. However, it does take place in a fictional world.

elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 13:59:23 UTC

Actually Vintage was probably more up the alley ;-) I'm searching for paranormal not fantasy, so ghosts, vampires, shifters... fantasy is a genre of its own.

mroctober July 19 2010, 14:17:27 UTC

Ahh, okay, I will change back.

Paranormal? jshillingford July 19 2010, 13:26:32 UTC

This was a tough poll because I wasn't sure what you were classifying as "paranormal." Shapeshifters and vampires are usually paranormal, but what about fantasy?

So, with a gay male audience as you say, I went with the werewolf novel "On the Ragged Edge of the World." Which, while I loved it, is not strictly my favorite (that goes to Without Reservation and Change of Heart, but I consider those gay romance for het women). J

Re: Paranormal? elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 13:29:14 UTC

Thank you Jem. What did you say of Rowan McBride, would she right for the target?

Re: Paranormal? jshillingford July 19 2010, 13:39:07 UTC

If you are using a very broad definition of paranormal (eg, things that aren't based in our real world) then yes, I would include Rowan. But, I classify her more as ScifFi. I took the definition as being very narrow (originally it was weres and vamps) hence my recommendation. It you expanded it to be SciFi/Fantasy, I may very well select something else. :-)

Re: Paranormal? elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 13:44:19 UTC

mmm, no, for a first time reader of the genre, I think vampires/shapeshifters would be best. I was thinking to Lone by Rowan McBride, more than her muscle growth books. Maybe some Jordan Castillo Price or Jourdan Lane? problem is that I need to think with a man mind (for gay paranormal) and probably a bit worried to find too much romance... exactly the opposite of what I would hope instead to find!

Thread 6

valarltd July 19 2010, 15:10:46 UTC

My apologies. I'm the only writer I could think of in the lesbian and bi categories.

Narcissus in Chains barely qualifies. 98% is the het chick angsting over her vampire/werewolf/were-leopard lovers. But it does have a character on the Trans spectrum. I found it an interesting and difficult book with a lot to say about morals, ethics, principles and obligations.

In the gay category, B.G Thomas is an emerging writer. I almost went with Kiernan Kelly's Seti's Heart.

And if you want one that hits ALL the points (G L B T +++), try my Alive on the Inside.

elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 15:27:54 UTC

Thank you Angelia. I found it's not easy as I thought to find LGBT paranormal fitting the target, so thank you for the suggestions.

mroctober July 19 2010, 15:33:43 UTC

I wonder if the poll would be more serious if authors could not nominate their own work. Guitly as charged... but still...

elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 15:40:52 UTC

I would have wanted for readers to be a bit more active. I'm indeed browsing te genre for someone else, and so I need to think with the mind of this person. I'm not really interesting in a real poll, there is no winners, I only need to test the water.

oddmonster July 19 2010, 16:44:38 UTC

Hi! I couldn't fit all my answers in the tiny boxes.

So, Caitlin R. Kiernan writes a ton of paranormal with a Lovecraft bent. I nominated my favorite of her books, Silk, but I also love The Red Tree, and she has a subscription erotica journal, Sirenia Digest where gender is sort of an afterthought. It's very much selkies having sex with starfish and carnivals of tentacles, so pansexual's maybe the term.

Poppy Z. Brite has an early series of gay paranormal books; my favorite is Drawing Blood, but she also has a highly regarded vampire book, Drawing Blood.

There are some great short gay paranormal stories:

--"Elegy for a Demon Lover", by Sarah Monette, in the collection The Bone Key; (incubus)
--Kate Roman, "Search for the Yeti" (yetis);
--"Becoming the Spoils" by JL Merrow (vampire)

There's really a ton of paranormals out there, and it might be useful to know if the person you're shopping for has a particular kind of paranormal they prefer over others, and then narrow it down from there.

elisa_rolle July 19 2010, 17:19:25 UTC

It's more a taste test thing, so the authors you listed seem good, I didn't think to Poppy Z. Brite, but indeed is a good suggestion. And I didn't know Caitlin R. Kiernan, so also that is good. I'm used to think to Sarah Monette more as fantasy, but incubus is indeed paranormal. Thank you.